Leaves of Life Part 53

--Romans 5. 1.

My Creator, I praise thee for the knowledge of life, and the hope of immortality. Help me to express my belief, and to give my utmost for the divinest, that I may be worthy of life eternal. Amen.

JULY SECOND

Archbishop Cranmer born 1489.

Christopher W. Gluck born 1714.

Richard Henry Stoddard born 1825.

Sir Robert Peel died 1850.

One step more, and the race is ended; One word more, and the lesson's done; One toil more, and a long rest follows At set of sun.

Who would fail, for one step withholden?

Who would fail, for one word unsaid?

Who would fail, for a pause too early?

Sound sleep the dead.

--Christina G. Rossetti.

One who never turned his back, but marched breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break, Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph, Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, Sleep to wake.

--Robert Browning.

He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

--Matthew 10. 22.

My Father, thou hast proven the strength of thy promises by thy tender love and mercy through the darkest hours. Help me always to cling to the hope that thou hast provided for my soul. May I be trustful, and be thankful to "see so much as one side of a celestial idea, one side of the rainbow, and the sunset sky." Amen.

JULY THIRD

John S. Copley born 1737.

Henry Grattan born 1746.

Eugene Sue died 1857.

Not from the dangers that beset our path From storm or sudden death, or pain or wrath, We pray deliverance; But from the envious eye, the narrowed mind Of those that are the vultures of mankind Thy aid advance.

Not at the strong man's righteous rage or hate, But at the ambushed malice laid in wait Thy strength arise; At those who ever seek to spot the fair White garments of a neighbor's character With mud of lies.

--Theodosia P. Garrison.[1]

Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings.

--1 Peter 2. 1.

My Lord, may I remember that to protect the character of others is to add virtue to my own. Grant that I may see the good and not be looking for the evil. Cause me to know that peace will not abide in deceit or revenge, but may be found in a happy and charitable spirit. Help me to earn thy peace. Amen.

[Footnote 1: Special permission by Mitch.e.l.l Kennerly, New York.]

JULY FOURTH

Independence Day.

Colonel William Byrd died 1704.

Nathaniel Hawthorne born 1804.

Thomas Jefferson died 1826.

By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto, "In G.o.d is our trust"; And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

--Francis Scott Key.

Seek not to keep your soul perpetually in the unwholesome region of remorse. It was needful to pa.s.s through that dark valley, but it is infinitely dangerous to linger there too long.

--Nathaniel Hawthorne.

And this city shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them.

--Jeremiah 33. 9.

Lord of justice and peace, may I not pause at the marked stones of the brave to learn of liberty, but may I look for the opportunities that I may measure up to because of them, and do my part to keep the peace and spread the blessings of our land. Amen.

JULY FIFTH

Mrs. Sarah Siddons born 1755.